Lot number 1751 - Auction 142
MONUMENTALE, BEZEICHNETE IKONE MIT DEM MANDYLION AUS EINER KIRCHEN-IKONOSTASE

A MONUMENTAL ICON SHOWING THE MANDYLION FROM A CHURCH ICONOSTASIS Russian, Follower of Simon Ushakov, late 17th century Tempera on wood panel. The halo gilded. Cyrillic inscription on the lower border 'Simon Ushakov'. Vertical cracks, areas of restoration. 102.3 x 85 cm. The Mandylion by Simon Ushakov (1658) is a significant work of Russian iconography depicting the 'Image Not Made by Hands' of Christ. It merges traditional Byzantine iconography with Western realism, which gained influence in 17th-century Russia. Ushakov's portrayal of Christ's face is rendered with subtle light and shadow gradations, giving it a three-dimensional quality. Despite these realistic touches, the composition remains strictly symmetrical, emphasizing Christ's divine immutability, which is characteristic of Orthodox icons.